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Mickey Arthur turns Pak coaching offer

Former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur's agent confirmed that his client was not interested in coaching Pakistan. (AFP)

Karachi: Pakistan's quest for a new foreign coach suffered a setback after South African Mickey Arthur turned down an offer for the position.

Official sources in the PCB have confirmed that talks were held with Arthur's agent, but he made it clear his client was not interested in the Pakistan coaching offer as he was happy with his present coaching position in South Africa's domestic circuit.

"The agent for Arthur turned down the offer from the outset," a source said.

He said to complicate the hunt for a new foreign coach, the two other foreign candidates shortlisted for the job had also been ruled out for various reasons.

"Dean Jones ad Dermot Reeve are no longer in the run and the PCB apparently has had a change of plan and is now looking at hiring specialist coaches for batting, fielding and bowling instead of hiring a head coach," the source said.

The PCB last week advertised the positions of bowling, batting and fielding coaches on its website and have invited interested candidates to apply by November 18.

The PCB started looking for a new head coach following Waqar Younis' resignation after the Zimbabwe tour due to personal and health reasons.

Around 37 foreign and local candidates responded to the PCB advertisement, out of which the committee formed to help the board select a new coach shortlisted five of the candidates, with Arthur being the hot favourite.

But the PCB now finds itself in a quandary after Arthur, a former coach of the South African team, apparently changed his mind.

"The new Chairman, Zaka Ashraf, appears more inclined to favour the theory of having specialist coaches working with the team and one strong administration manager instead of having just one head with the support staff," the source said.